A federal judge in Illinois has ordered the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility near Chicago to improve the living conditions for detained migrants, following complaints about overcrowding and unsanitary conditions. U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman issued the directive after detainees raised concerns about the lack of proper hygiene supplies, overflowing toilets, and cramped sleeping conditions. The order mandates that detainees receive clean bedding, access to essential hygiene items, and regular cleaning of the facility. It also requires that detainees be allowed to shower at least once every other day, with three meals a day and bottled water available upon request.
The ruling follows a lawsuit filed by detainees who described the conditions as deplorable. They reported that the facility had been operating with insufficient space, leading to overcrowding, and that the sanitation systems were inadequate, with water said to taste like ‘sewer.’ The judge emphasized that detainees should not be forced to sleep next to overflowing toilets or on top of each other. His order also calls for the facility to be cleaned twice a day and for detainees to have access to prescribed medications and menstrual products.
ICE has not yet responded to requests for comment, but the Broadview facility has been the subject of several anti-ICE protests in recent weeks. The government’s attorney, Jana Brady, argued during a Tuesday hearing that conditions had already been improving for several months, but she acknowledged that the lack of bed space was due to the facility not being intended for long-term housing. The order comes amid ongoing debates over immigration policies, with President Donald Trump advocating for more aggressive deportations, claiming that ‘raids haven’t gone far enough.’ His comments highlight the growing political polarization around immigration enforcement in the U.S.